Dovetail



` W. v C. DEVEREAUX DOVETAIL May 3, 1938.

`Origin'al Filed Jan. 28, 1935 y Juve/afar.' Miha/7L C. evereaux Patented May 3, 1938 d UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 3,715. Divided and this 1936, Serial No. 72,236

application April 2,

9y claims. (ci. 29e-44) This invention relates to door dovetails particularly, although not exclusively, adapted for use in connection with doors of automobile'or other vehicle bodies, an object of the invention being to provide an improved device of this type having cooperating parts adapted to be mounted on the door and body pillar or other frame member, said parts functioning in improved and effective manner to produce a supporting connection between the door and pillar of substantially rigid and inflexible nature. This application is a division of my copending application Serial Number 3,715, filed January 28, 1935, issued as Paten No. 2,046,612, July '7, 1936. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dovetail which may be mounted on the door and body pillars of a vehicle body adv jacent the hinged edges -thereof and composed of coacting male and female parts which, when situated on the opposed jamb faces of the pillars, may be utilized not only to prevent vibration and rattling of the door but also to supplant one of the conventionalhinge supporting members for the door.

Another object is to provide improved means `which is inconspicuous when the door is open and completely hidden when closed and which permits the hinging or supporting of a door of the curved or inwardly sloping type without the necessity of employing the unsightly top or upper hinge now in use on bodies of this character.

A further object is to provide an improved dovetail which is eflicient in operation, of relatively simple construction, and one which is capable of being manufactured at relatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention will appear` in the following description and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specilication.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 isa fragmentary side elevation of an automobile body illustrating the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 3`3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4`is a section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a section corresponding to Fig. 3 with the door partly open.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified formof the invention. Y

Fig. 8 is `an elevational view, partly `in section, taken substantially along the line 8--8 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 'Lshowing a further modified form of the invention.

Before explaining in detail the present invention itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of conlo struction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingA drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or term minology` employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements vof the prior art.

As is well known, modern streamlined enclosed automobile bodies are often provided with doors and door pillars which slope or are in clined'upwardlylandinwardly 'from the body sill toward the `roof unit,` thus producing a decided curvature or inward sweep in the region of the upper section of the door and Vits supporting pillar. In these bodies it is oftennecessary to employ a tcp hinge construction of sufficient size and length to permit swinging of the door, since the pivotal point of this hinge must be vertically alined with the pivotal point or points of the hinge or hinges for supporting the lower section of the door. Obviously, such hinges are unsightly and detract from the appearance of the car, in addition to providing an objectionable 35 projection which extends a substantial distance beyondthe side wall of the body. By virtue of the present invention the foregoing objections have been overcome and an improved dovetail provided by which the upper section or portion of a curved or inwardly sloping door may be rigidly supported when closed to prevent rattling and jarring due to vibrations set up when the vehicle is in motion. In the'accompanying drawing I have shown, merely by way of example, several modifications of a dovetail construction embodying the invention and shown in position for supporting the upper `section of -an automobile door.1 Referring particularly to Figs. land 2 thereis shown asa whole at A an automobile body having a sill B, a roof'structure orf rail C, a bodypillar Dand a front door E. The lower section of the door below the belt panel E is pivotally supported for swinging movement relative to the pillar D by 55 means of conventional hinges I0, the upper section of the door, that is, that portion thereof which is above the belt panel E', being supported when in closed position by the improved dovetail construction of the present invention which is shown as a whole at II.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, there is shown one form of my improved dovetail construction. In this form the upper section or portion of the pillar of the door E is provided in its inner edge or jamb face with a depression I2 which may be pressed into the pillar'. This depression I2 is adapted to receive and support a removable plate I3 providing the base or supporting portion of a preferably conical Wedgeshaped stud or projection I4 forming the male member of the dovetail. The plate or base is provided with a pair of spaced elongated openings or slots I 3a which receive cap screws I5 which are threaded into the metal of the depressed portion to secure the plate and stud in position, the slots and screws providing means permitting vertical adjustment of the member relative tothe face of the door jamb so as to accommodate itself to the female socket member of the dovetail carried by the pillar D. A

Referring now to the cooperating female member or socket portion of the dovetail, there is provided a prefer-ably cylindrical housing or casing I6 having an outer marginal flange I1 which, as shown, may be secured in place between a face or closure plate I B provided with a central opening I8a and one flange of a ring-like member I9, which, as shown, is substantially Z-shaped in cross section. The parts I1, I8 and I9 are assembled and are secured in place within a recess or depression Zll formed in the edge or jamb face of the pillar D in any suitable manner, such as by spot welding. Located within the housing or casing I6 is a series of preferably three segmental members 2I having their peripheral edge portions preferably curved or rounded to provide convex surfaces 2Ia which contact the side walls of the housing. The inner end portion of the housing is stamped or shaped to provide an annular recess or groove 22 to receive and support a perforated disc or Washer 23 which is held in place in the groove by an inwardly extending annular flange 24 formed on the housing. The three segmental blocks or members 2| together provide a socket portion 2lb which, as shown, is substantially conical to accommodate the stud or male member I4. The outer face of each segment is recessed or cut away at 2Ic -and when assembled, the recesses provide a substantially continuous annular groove to receive and support one end of a coil spring 25. The opposite end of the spring engages the inner face of the washer 23. As seen in Fig. 6, the spring 25 engages all of the segmental members 2I simultaneously and serves the dual function of maintaining these members together as a unit and of normally maintaining them against the forward wall or plate I8 of the housing or casing. The spring is formed of any desiredgauge of wire and is of suflicient strength to cause the blocks 2| to exert -a sufficient force or pressure upon the stud or member I4 to resist its movement into the socket 2 Ib when the door is swung into closed position. The spring also maintains the parts against relative movement-and consequent rattling or jarring when they assume the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 3. However, the blocks are capable of a limited rocking or oscillating movement when the stud moves into or out of engagement with them, to accommodate themselves to the shape and position of the stud. It will be understood that the several parts or elements just described which together form the socket or female portion of the dovetail construction, may be assembled in any suitable and convenient manner.

In Figs. 'l and 8 there is shown a modified form of dovetail construction embodying the invention. In these figures the edge or jamb of the door E is provided in its upper section with a depressed portion or recess I2 corresponding to the depression shown in the previous gures and adapted to receive and support a removable plate II3 to which is fastened a male stud member I I4. This member, as shown, is substantially conical and has a reduced neck portion or shank I I4a which is passed through an opening I I3a formed in the plate, the outer end of the neck portion being riveted over at I|4b to secure the stud member to the plate. As in the previous form of the invention, the plate II3 is yadjustably secured in position in the recess or depression by a plurality of cap screws or the like I5.

The body pillar D in the present form of the invention has its jamb face or edge formed to provide an apertured recess or depressed portion II'I to receive and support a removable metal plate H8. The plate carries on its-inner face a casing or housing portion IIS, the latter having at its inner end an inturned marginal flange portion or lip IIBa which is adapted to receive and support an apertured disc or washer 23. The plate I I8 and washer provide the end walls of the casing. The outer end of the housing has a surrounding flange IlBb by which the housing is attached to the plate I I8, this being accomplished by means of spot Welding (Fig. '7) or in any other suitable manner. The casing is adapted to receive a spring 25 and a series of segmental blocks or members 2| which, when assembled, provide, as shown, a tapered socket portion 2lb adapted to receive the conical stud or male member II4 of the dovetail. It will be seen that the parts are arranged in substantially the same manner as in the preceding figures and are maintained within the casing against displacement by means of the plate I I8 which iits within the depression I I1 and is held in place therein by screws or the like II8a. The plate II8 is centrally apertured at IIb to permit the stud member to pass therethrough when the door is closed. As in the preceding form of the invention, the spring 25, which has its opposite ends in engagement with the recessed inner face of the segmental members 2I and the plate or washer 23, serves to maintain the segments together. The spring is of sufficient strength to force the segments, as a unit, toward the closure plate I I8, yet permitting limited relative rocking movement of the several blocks or segments. When the door is closed, as shown, the spring causes the segments to tightly grip the stud member of the dovetail and hold the parts together to prevent any possibility of rattling or jarring due to vibrations set up when the vehicle is in motion.

In Fig. 9 there is shown a further modified form of dovetail construction embodying the present invention. In this form, the jamb of the door E is provided with an opening which is adapted vto receive the neck portion I I4a of a substantially conical stud or male member II4 which, as shown, corresponds to the member -II4 shown in Figs. l and 8. The stud is inserted in the opening and the end of the reduced neck portion vISIS or shank thereof is flattened or riveted over at |I4b to secure the stud rigidly in place. The jamb face 218 of the pillar D is apertured at EiBb to permit the passage therethrough vof the stud member H4 when the door is closed. The socket or female portion of the dovetail construction comprises a preferably round metal housing or casing I6 having a marginal flange lSa which, as shown, is secured to the inner face of the jamb 2|.8 by spot welding. The inner or free end of the casing is shaped to provide an annular recess or groove 22 corresponding to the recess 22 shown in Figs. 3 and 6, for the purpose of receiving and supporting an apertured disc or washer 23 which is held in place within the groove by the inturned flange 24. In the present instance, the jamb face 2i8 provides the front closure or wall of the casing or housing. As in the preceding forms, the housing contains a plurality of segmental members or blocks 2l, which together provide a tapered socket portion 2 lb to receive the stud I M, there being a coiled spring 25 interposed between the blocks and the washer 23 to hold the segments together and to force them toward the jamb face ZIB for the same purpose as the corresponding springs shown in preceding gures.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle body including a door and door frame construction in which the door and frame slope inwardly toward their upper ends in the direction of the vehicle roof; said door and frame having vertically spaced cooperating hinge members for supporting the lower section of the door, and a dovetail device having cooperating male and female parts carried by the opposed jamb faces of the door and door frame at the hinged edge of the door for supporting the upper section of the door when the door is in closed position. 2. In combination with a vehicle door and door frame in which the door and frame have a gradual slope inwardly toward their upper end; spaced hinge members carried by the lower section of said door and frame for supporting the door in swinging relation to said frame, and a dovetail device carried by the upper section of said door and frame between their j amb faces at the hinged edge of the door and comprising substantially abutting segmental blocks forming a conical central recess, and a conical projection cooperable therewith.

3. In combination with a vehicle door and door frame in which 'the door and frame extend in one plane throughout a portion of their height and in a different plane throughout the remainder thereof spaced hinge members carried by the door and frame portions extending in the first named plane for supporting the door in swinging relation to said frame, and a dovetail device having separable and cooperating parts carried by the opposed jamb faces of the door and frame in the portion thereof extending in said second named plane for supporting the door when in closed position.

4. IIn a vehicle body including a door and door frame construction, cooperating means carried by said door and frame for supporting the door at its hinged edge and comprising a dovetail device having separable cooperating and intertting parts, said parts being carried by the door and frame respectively, one thereof being spring pressed to frictionally engage the other of said parts when the door is in closed position.

5. In a vehicle body including a door and door frame construction, cooperating means carried by said door and frame for supporting the door at its hinged edge and comprising a hinge located in the lower section of the door for supporting the same, and a dovetail device comprising a male member attached to the door jamb in the upper section thereof and a cooperable spring pressed female member attached to the jamb face of said frame at the hinged edge of the door for supporting the door when in closed position.

6. In a vehicle body including a door and door frame construction, cooperating means carried by said door and frame for supporting the door at its hinged edge and comprising a hinge located in the lower section of the door for supporting the same, and a dovetail device comprising a male member attached to the door jamb in the upper section thereof and a spring pressed cooperable female member attached to the jamb face of said frame at the hinged edge of the door for supporting the door when in closed position, said male and female members being adjustable relative to their respective jamb faces.

7. In a vehicle body including a door and door frame construction in which the door and frame slope inwardly toward their upper ends in the direction of the vehicle roof; said door and frame having a hinge member for supporting the lower section of the door, and a dovetail device having separable parts carried by the jamb faces of the door and frame at the hinged edge of the door, one of said parts being adjustable relative to its supporting jamb face, and the other of said parts being adjustable independently of said first named part and relative to its supporting jamb face.

8. In combination with a door and door frame in which the door and frame have a lower section extending in one plane and an upper section extending in a different plane; a hinge member carried by the lower section of said door and frame for supporting the door in swinging relation to said frame, and cooperating conical stud and socket members carried by the jamb faces of the upper section of the door and frame for supporting the door when in closed position, said stud and socket members being independently adjustable relative to their jamb faces.

9. In combination With a door and door frame in which the door and frame have a lower section extending in one plane and an upper section extending in a different plane; a hinge member carried by the lower section of said door and frame for supporting the door in swinging relation to said frame, and cooperating conical stud and socket members carried by the jamb faces of the upper section of the door and frame for supporting the door when in closed position, said stud and socket members being independently adjustable relative to their jamb faces, said socket member including a housing and a plurality of spring pressed blocks frictionally engaging said stud when the door is in closed position.

WILLIAM C. DEVEREAUX. 

